The Harsh Reality of Women’s Rights Under Sharia Law in Saudi Arabia and Beyond

In several countries governed by Sharia law, the lives of women are marked by systemic oppression, restrictions on personal freedoms, and denial of basic human rights. While the interpretation and implementation of Sharia law may vary across nations, its impact on women remains predominantly negative in many regions. Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan represent stark examples of how Sharia law can be wielded to perpetuate gender inequality, with women enduring strict limitations on education, employment, healthcare, and personal autonomy.

Saudi Arabia, often presented as a progressive nation due to its recent economic and social reforms, continues to impose draconian policies on women. Despite minor advances, such as the lifting of the driving ban in 2018 and loosening of some restrictions on women’s movement, the Kingdom’s legal and cultural systems still subjugate women to a deeply entrenched male guardianship structure. This analytical exploration delves into how Sharia law in Saudi Arabia and other countries reinforces patriarchy, limits women’s freedoms, and the international community’s response to these violations.

Saudi Arabia: A Glimpse of Progress, A Reality of Oppression

Saudi Arabia has recently garnered international attention for its attempts at modernization and reform, particularly in the realm of women’s rights. The removal of the driving ban for women in 2018, the legal right for women to travel without male permission, and the loosening of some male guardianship laws were heralded as significant milestones. Yet, these reforms have done little to change the deeply ingrained patriarchal system that continues to control the lives of women.

In fact, many of these changes have been framed as “window dressing” by human rights activists, who argue that the Saudi government uses such reforms to improve its international image without addressing the fundamental structural issues that oppress women. For instance, the male guardianship system, enshrined in Saudi law, continues to undermine women’s autonomy in critical areas such as marriage, divorce, custody, and travel. The law requires women to obtain permission from their male guardians (usually fathers or husbands) for almost every significant life decision. This system, codified into law in 2022 as the Personal Status Law, continues to exert control over women’s freedoms, making them dependent on the whims of male family members.

Moreover, despite recent rhetoric on women’s empowerment, Saudi Arabia remains one of the most dangerous places for women who defy social norms. Women have been arrested for the simplest acts of defiance, such as not wearing the mandated abaya (a loose-fitting black cloak) or for posting critical opinions on social media. Activists like Lina al-Hathloul have repeatedly called out the Saudi government for its dual approach: pushing progressive reforms on the surface while silencing dissent and maintaining draconian laws that limit women’s agency.

Iran: A Nation Bound by the Hijab and Male Guardianship

In Iran, Sharia law similarly enforces a strict male guardianship system, impacting women’s right to marry, divorce, inherit property, and even travel. The legal age for marriage remains as low as 13, and girls can be married even younger if their male guardian permits it. Women who wish to live independently or make decisions about their own lives must first seek approval from male relatives, often subjecting them to coercion and emotional abuse.

One of the most visible manifestations of women’s oppression in Iran is the mandatory hijab law, which requires women to cover their hair in public. Women who defy this law face arrest, imprisonment, and public humiliation. The case of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being detained for improperly wearing her hijab, exemplifies the brutality with which Iranian authorities enforce this law. Her tragic death sparked nationwide protests that were met with violent repression by the Iranian government, which arrested and killed hundreds of protesters, including children.

Despite this brutal crackdown, Iranian women have continued to resist. In 2023, new laws further restricted women’s rights by imposing severe penalties for failing to comply with the hijab law, including large fines and the revocation of personal documents such as passports and driver’s licenses. Women in Iran have made clear their refusal to be silenced, using social media and public protests to challenge the regime’s oppressive rules.

Afghanistan: A Nation Under Taliban Rule and the Reversal of Women’s Rights

Perhaps the most extreme case of Sharia law’s harsh impact on women today is in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 has dramatically worsened the situation for women and girls. Under the Taliban, women have been stripped of their rights to education, employment, and public life. The legal system is once again rooted in a strict interpretation of Sharia law that severely restricts women’s mobility and agency.

The Taliban’s policies require women to be accompanied by a male relative whenever they leave their homes. This system forces women into a subordinate position in society and prevents them from pursuing education, participating in the workforce, or even accessing basic healthcare without male approval. Women are banned from attending school and are also prohibited from working for NGOs, further marginalizing them in a deeply patriarchal society. The regime has also reinstated practices such as forced marriages and honor killings, which are carried out under the guise of maintaining family “honor.”

The Taliban’s treatment of women has sparked international outrage, yet the international community has struggled to find effective solutions to protect women’s rights in Afghanistan. The United Nations has used its diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime to push for women’s access to education, but the ruling group has shown little willingness to back down from its repressive policies.

The Way Forward: International Pressure and Local Resistance

In all three of these countries, the systemic oppression of women under Sharia law remains a key issue. While there has been some international pushback—such as sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and the advocacy of human rights organizations—the efforts have largely been ineffective in bringing about meaningful change. Women’s rights activists continue to fight for justice and equality, often at great personal cost.

The case of Afghan women under the Taliban is particularly dire, and the international community must do more to pressure the Taliban to recognize and uphold the basic rights of women and girls. Similarly, Saudi Arabia and Iran must be held accountable for their continued violation of women’s rights under the guise of religious law. International actors, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, must demand not just symbolic reforms but substantial legal and cultural changes that guarantee the equality and freedom of women in these countries.

The fight for gender equality in these nations is not just a matter of legal reform—it is about changing deeply ingrained cultural attitudes toward women. Until these attitudes shift, the implementation of Sharia law in these countries will remain a tool of patriarchal control, denying women their fundamental rights and freedoms. For the international community to contribute to positive change, it must prioritize the voices of women who are most affected by these laws and ensure that their experiences are platformed in discussions on human rights.